CHALFONT St Peter recovered from a dreadful start last weekend to retain their newfound optimism despite a home defeat to the league leaders.

They were 2-0 down inside seven minutes against Barton Rovers, but a boom-or-bust tactical shift from manager Danny Edwards paid off, and in the end they can consider themselves slightly unlucky to have lost 2-1.

Edwards said: “When you’re 2-0 down after six minutes against the league leaders, you do start to panic a little bit.

“But I changed the shape and called their bluff a bit by pushing men forwards.

“Barton were well on top in the first half, but in the second half we had three or four very good chances and I honestly think if one of them had gone in we’d have gone on to win it.

“I think they’d have walked away thinking they were lucky to have won it.”

Despite Rovers playing three up front, Edwards went from a back four to a back three, backing his defenders to win their personal battles.

And fortune so nearly favoured the brave.

An own goal on the stroke of half time made it 2-1 and Saints thought they’d equalised when Remmel Clarke finished from close range after Scott Fitzgerald had challenged the Rovers keeper.

The goal was disallowed though, and Rovers managed to cling on to all three points.

Edwards said: “It shows progression. I honestly don’t think we’re a million miles away.

“I remember a few years ago we played St Neot’s, who were top of the league, and I thought we were a million miles away from them.

“But I didn’t think that against Barton.

“I know the season hasn’t gone to plan and we’ve not kicked on like we’d have wanted to, but we’ve got the potential to go on a run.”

Chalfont go to Northwood on Saturday hoping to bounce back immediately.